Omelas

        It’s hard to imagine that one or many lives can be better do the suffering of one individual. An individual that has no aspect of what life is about because he has been forced into imprisonment at such a young age, he can never enjoy the smell of fresh air or the feel of the hot sun on his face. The companionship of a best friend, or brother and sister, are something that this child will never experience because everyone around him is more involved in their own self-interest.

        So this brings up the question. What would you do if you knew that a child was suffering for your benefit? You have the option to leave; in fact all of the people of the town have the option to leave and set the child free. So why don’t they? Is your happiness really that much more important than that of another?

        Personally I would leave. I would do whatever was necessary to get the means to pack up my family, the ones who were wiliing, and leave. I couldn’t live with the thought of a child suffering for my well-being. There is so much more to life than yourself and what is happening now. I would rather suffer now and have a beautiful life in eternity because the flesh that surrounds me is merely a vessel to get me to my final destination.

        Would others leave though? I seriously doubt it. People are afraid of the unknown and change. The mentality of why change something that is good for me would set in and the people of the community would go on about their lives and try not to think about the little boy who suffers daily for their prosperity. In a sense it is what is going on in America today. We have these super rich people that make large amounts of money off of the backs of the average American with no regrets at all. They make so much money that they could end hunger and homelessness and still have whatever they want. Most don’t pay taxes, they get comps everywhere they go, and people line up to kiss their hind ends hoping that they will get on the good side of the elite and get pulled out of poverty.